New grooming business looks for a ‘paw’-sitive start

MATTAPOISETT — Dog and cat grooming have been a part of Jay Gagnon’s life ever since he was a kid and now, after working in his family’s business for a total of eight years, he has opened his own shop in Mattapoisett called The Grooming Den.

Gagnon, who lives in Fall River, spent three years in the grooming business when he was in his teens and early 20s before venturing into his own career for over two decades. 

But five years ago he returned to his dad’s shop in Fall River where he decided he “really liked it this time.”

“I’ve been doing it ever since,” he said.

According to Gagnon, his last name is well-known in the Fall River area for the pet grooming business, and having worked in the “high volume” shop six days a week for eight years, he said he has the experience and know-how to run a successful shop.

When he heard the owner of Dirty Doggo was thinking of selling her shop in February, Gagnon seized the opportunity to open a pet grooming business of his own.

“Just in the past month or so being here, I learned a lot more because people are asking for different services,” Gagnon said.

He explained there are differences in the services dogs require in Mattapoisett versus in Fall River.

“A lot of bigger dogs require different haircuts than city dogs,” he said. “It’s different — I like it.”

Gagnon grooms both dogs and cats, offering services such as nail trims, pet rolling, coat styling, messaging baths, ear cleansing, hair plucking when necessary and more.

While there are other dog groomers in the area, the he said there are elements to The Grooming Den that makes it unique, including a backyard they can take the dogs out to if they have to go to the bathroom, the cat services they provide and the products clients can buy in the shop.

The Grooming Den, located at 58 Fairhaven Road, opened March 17 after the previous owner first limited her shop’s hours to Saturdays then decided to sell the location, said Kerry Gagnon, who is Jay’s wife and is helping to get The Grooming Den up and running.

While some of the shop’s initial customers were Dirty Doggo clients, after launching its grand opening a few weeks ago, The Grooming Den’s business is picking up, which Kerry Gagnon attributes to the people who enter the shop.

“I’ve never seen people be more supportive and they are so happy when they leave,” she said.

Kerry Gagnon explained that clients often refer other people to the shop.

“A lot of people are like, ‘We’re going to get you busy. We want to get you busy,” she said.